Animal Sacrifice, Restoration of
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I heard the prophet reply to a question that was asked him by some one of a small company of brethren who had gathered into his office, and, as usual, the class of men generally around him were unceasingly calling for information from his boundless treasure-field, and his answer was this: "Yes, there will; for there was never any rites, ordinances or laws in the Priesthood of any gospel dispensation upon this earth but what will have to be finished and perfected in this the last dispensation of time, the dispensation of all dispensations." This answer was given to a question upon sacrifices and burnt offerings, such as Israel in the days of Moses performed, upon which the conversation of the company had been, and this answer was to the question, "Will there ever be any more offering of sheep and heifers and bullocks upon altars, as used to be required of Israel?"
Joseph Smith
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It will be necessary here to make a few observations on the doctrine set forth in the above quotation, and it is generally supposed that sacrifice was entirely done away when the Great Sacrifice [i.e., the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus] was offered up, and that there will be no necessity for the ordinance of sacrifice in future; but those who assert this are certainly not acquainted with the duties, privileges and authority of the priesthood, or with the Prophets. The offering of sacrifice has ever been connected and forms a part of the duties of the Priesthood. It began with the Priesthood, and will be continued until after the coming of Christ, from generation to generation. We frequently have mention made of the offering of sacrifice by the servants of the Most High in ancient days, prior to the law of Moses; which ordinances will be continued when the Priesthood is restored with all its authority, power and blessings. Elijah was the last Prophet that held the keys of the Priesthood, and who will, before the last dispensation, restore the authority and deliver the keys of the Priesthood, in order that all the ordinances may be attended to in righteousness. It is true that the Savior had authority and power to bestow this blessing; but the sons of Levi were too prejudiced.”And I will send Elijah the Prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord,” etc., etc. Why send Elijah? Because he holds the keys of the authority to administer in all the ordinances of the Priesthood; and without the authority is given, the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness. It is a very prevalent opinion that the sacrifices which were offered were entirely consumed. This was not the case; if you read Leviticus, second chap., second and third verses, you will observe that the priests took a part as a memorial and offered it up before the Lord, while the remainder was kept for the maintenance of the priests; so that the offerings and sacrifices are not all consumed upon the altar—but the blood is sprinkled, and the fat and certain other portions are consumed. These sacrifices, as well as every ordinance belonging to the Priesthood, will, when the Temple of the Lord shall be built, and the sons of Levi be purified, be fully restored and attended to in all their powers, ramifications, and blessings. This ever did and ever will exist when the powers of the Melchisedek Priesthood are sufficiently manifest; else how can the restitution of all things spoken of by the holy Prophets be brought to pass? It is not to be understood that the law of Moses will be established again with all its rites and variety of ceremonies; this has never been spoken of by the Prophets; but those things which existed prior to Moses’ day, namely, sacrifice, will be continued. It may be asked by some, what necessity for sacrifice, since the Great Sacrifice was offered? In answer to which, if repentance, baptism, and faith existed prior to the days of Christ, what necessity for them since that time? The Priesthood has descended in a regular line from father to son, through their succeeding generations. Joseph Smith, in History of the Church, 4:211-212.
Joseph Smith
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When we see a temple built right, there will be a place for the priests to enter and put on their robes, and offer up sacrifices, first for themselves, and then for the people. William G. Hartley, "Ordained and Acting Teachers in the Lesser Priesthood, 1851-1883," BYU Studies 16, no. 3 (1976): 384. Heber C. Kimball Journal, 2 January 1846
President Brigham Young
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Under the pulpit in the west end will be a place to offer sacrifices. There will be an altar prepared for that purpose so that when any sacrifices are to be offered they should be offered there.
President Brigham Young
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Offering Of The Sons Of Levi
President Joseph Fielding Smith
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It was during this American ministry that our Lord instituted in the New World, as he had done in Jerusalem and the Old World, the sacramental ordinance in which broken bread was eaten in remembrance of his body, and wine was drunk in remembrance of his blood. From that blessed day onward the sacrament replaced sacrifices except that as part of the restitution of all things — and then on a limited basis only — blood sacrifices will be offered again. It was of these future sacrificial ordinances that Malachi prophesied, in a setting descriptive of the Second Coming of the Son of Man, that the returning Lord would "purify the sons of Levi. . . . that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." Of this offering, to be made in "Judah and Jerusalem." the prophecy says it shall be "pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years." (Mai. 3: 1-5.) It was to these sacrifices that Ezekiel alluded when he set forth the nature and use of the temple yet to be built in Jerusalem. And so that they might be performed by Levites who once again were legal administrators. John the Baptist, a Levite whose right it was to offer sacrifices anciently, and who was in fact the last Levitical priest to hold the keys of the ministry, brought back the ancient order of Aaron, saying to Joseph Smith and
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
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